The Idol Of Draki

Chapter 1: Discord's Perspective

Discord froze, every muscle in his body tensing as he gazed upon the Idol Celestia magically held aloft. It was solid bronze, shaped like an hourglass. Only a few inches tall, with absolutely nothing remotely frightening about its appearance.

Nevertheless, Discord found it more terrifying than anything he'd ever encountered before. Even moreso than the nightmare he'd had a few times of a giant cockatrice chasing him with the intent of resealing him in his stone prison.

Fluttershy and the rest of the 'Mane Six' had been summoned to Canterlot's throne room so Celestia could inform them about something strange that had recently been unearthed. Discord had tagged along just because he'd wanted to stay near Fluttershy.

What an utterly hopeless fool he was.

Celestia cleared her throat, speaking regally with her hair waving most dramatically, her magic's golden glow lifting the Idol higher for all to see. "This artifact was found near the Tree Of Harmony." Of course that stupid tree would want something like that... "I know it appears unassuming, but its magical aura is very powerful. The researchers who found it believe it may have been restricting the Tree's power, which would explain the recent outbursts from the Everfree Forest." ...Or maybe he and Harmony were in the same boat for once. Huh.

"Do you think somecreature was trying to attack the Tree?" One of the Ponies asked. Discord was too distracted to notice who beyond 'not-Fluttershy'.

"That's the current theory." Celestia nodded gravely, though Discord knew she was enjoying this; she was a bigger drama queen than he was, sometimes. "Who or what could create such a powerful object, and why they would simply abandon it on the ground, are questions still unanswered."

The Ponies all started to talk, each with theories about who it might be that's attacking Equestria this time, discussing what they needed to do to prepare. It was the perfect distraction for Discord to quietly inch his way to the door without being noticed.

He was balancing on all fours, tail swishing nervously, eyes never leaving the Idol. A desperate mantra of Don't ask me what it is, don't ask me what it is, don't ask me anything! rang through his mind as he got closer to making a clean escape.

He was almost there when Celestia's eyes flickered to him, tracking his fearful gaze to the Idol. "Discord, do you know what this is?" She asked, as if she could read his bucking mind.

He should've teleported away the moment he saw the damned thing, but it was too late now. The Idol's spell locked him in place, making Discord grit his teeth as he tried to just not answer and flee. But it was a futile battle, he could barely hold out ten seconds.

"Yesssss." He hissed, trying to cover the forcefulness of the answer being torn from him. He knew she wanted a better explanation, but he wouldn't talk about it until he had no choice.

A few minutes of quiet staring passed as the Ponies waited for him to elaborate, before Rainbow Dash spoke up. "Well, are you going to tell us what it is or not?"

"Not so long I can avoid it." Discord muttered. He could teleport away now, before another order was given, but could he really? They'd just question him later, and he'd worry Fluttershy if he ran off with zero explanation. She came above his fear any day of the week.

Maybe they'd just drop the subject?

Celestia's eyes narrowed, her voice growing stern. "Discord, what is this, how do you know about it, and why are trying to avoid telling us about it? Did you have anything to do with the attack on the Tree?"

Discord was starting to think Lady Luck had it out for him (which she might, if she was still bitter about losing that bet a few millennia ago) . Seriously, did Cece already know how the Idol worked? Because it definitely seemed like she was doing this on purpose.

Discord growled, squeezing his eyes shut as tightly as he could, fighting against the Idol's hold. But he couldn't break free, no matter how hard he tried. Give him a thousand years, he wouldn't be able to overcome it. A feeling he was unused to filled his body; powerlessness.

"It's called the Idol Of Draki." Discord sighed, hanging his head in defeat. The Ponies were shocked at his resigned expression and tone. "I had absolutely nothing to do with it showing up by the tree. I know what it is because eons ago, my parents liked to tell me scary stories before bed. Parents of the year, not."

He scowled at Celestia, hoping she knew how much he hated her in that moment. "I don't want to talk about it because it is the single most terrifying thing I've ever encountered."

The Ponies, and Spike, just stared at him in disbelief. Except for sweet Fluttershy, who moved beside him and held his paw, soothing some of his discomfort. He flashed her a brief smile, grateful as always for her kindness.

"Discord, what power does this 'Idol' hold?" Celestia's words were slow, cautious. "Why are you frightened of it?"

"Why am I-?" Discord burst into bitter laughter, taking a second to calm down and think. If he had to answer, which he did, he would draw it out as long as possible. Whether to spite them all or just to stall, he didn't really know.

"In times ancient even to the Elder Draconequui, there was a powerful council, the rulers of my people." He waved his talon, causing a golden image of nine Draconequus silhouettes to sparkle into existence. "They were cruel, controlling, and greedy. They wanted nothing less than ultimate power over their own kind, pooling their magic to create a weapon to conquer all others."

The image changed, showing streams of light coming from the Draconequui, forming the 'hourglass' that Celestia still held. Why couldn't she just set it down?!

"With their new weapon, the council made slaves of their own people, treating them with terrible cruelty." Many more Draconequus silhouettes appeared, bound by chains, with mouths open in silent screams. "But the Masters became suspicious of each other, for only one could use the Idol at a time. Its power was such that not even they, the most powerful Draconequui in existence, could resist it. What was to stop one of them from betraying the rest? Which, of course, is exactly what happened."

The image showed the council cowering before a particularly large, mean-looking Draconequus, the Idol in his grip.

"Draki, Lord Of Conquest, became Master Of All Draconequui." Discord shook slightly as he looked at the image of Draki, sitting on a spiky throne, slaves kneeling at his feet. Luckily, only Fluttershy seemed to notice his reaction.

"For many centuries, he ruled unopposed, using his own people as an army to take control of hundreds of other species." Golden Dragons, Gryphons, Ponies, and more floated around the room. Chains connected them all to Draki's silhouetted throne, a whip held in the hand not gripping the Idol.

A single large rabbit with curving antlers floated towards the Master Of All. "A brave Jackalope, her name lost to time, fought back in a most unusual fashion. She got close to him; some say she made her way to his bed, others claim her role was more of a trusted confidant. No matter her methods, she gained control of the Idol, freeing all those it had enslaved."

All the images faded, leaving only the Jackalope with the hourglass, Draki cowering at her feet. After a few seconds, that too faded away.

"No creature knows Draki's fate, though ity said that he was left to the Draconequui version of justice. The Idol was sealed away, but no creature knew where." Discord looked from one Pony to the next. "Lost to time, but forever remaining in the nightmares of my people. Many hoped it was destroyed, others hoped it never really existed in the first place, but no creature knew for sure. Until today."

Everycreature present, besides Discord, warily eyed the harmless-looking object. Some even took a step or two back, causing Discord to laugh, still partly bitter but truly amused. "Oh, don't worry, my little Ponies; its power only works on Draconequui. In fact, it's working on me right now."

This last bit was said so casually, almost cheerfully, that it took a second to register. Celestia spoke, unintentionally activating the Idol's power. "What do you mean? What is it doing to you?"

"Why it's controlling me, of course, dear Princess Celestia." He'd meant to call her Cece, but apparently the Idol's magic demanded a certain level of respect unless ordered otherwise. So long as he had any say in the matter, he was not going to call her 'Mistress'. "At this moment, since you wield the Idol, I cannot harm you. Or let harm come to you. Or lie to you, or refuse to answer your questions. And I cannot disobey any command you give me, no matter how much I may wish to, so long as it is within my abilities. Such as it is with all Draconequui, no matter how powerful."

Discord ignored the stares, ignored everything but where Fluttershy's hoof touched his paw, closing his eyes. He finished quietly. "That's why I'm so scared of it, Princess. You have complete control over me in this moment, and I'm utterly powerless against anything you may choose to do. Or make me do."

Chapter 2: Fluttershy's Perspective

Fluttershy had never heard Discord talk about his family before.

Discord tensing up and trying to sneak away had been unusual, but she had thought that maybe he'd remembered something important he needed to do, and was making an attempt to be polite and not interrupt. But then Celestia had started asking him questions, and he seemed almost in pain as he struggled to avoid answering -- that made her start freaking out.

Then he mentioned his parents, and she knew that something was deeply wrong. It was almost as surprising when he so casually admitted to being scared. With all of this strange behavior, she almost wasn't shocked by Discord's explanation of what the Idol was. It would have to be something that awful to rattle him this much.

But then he told Celestia that she had complete control over him, and Fluttershy freaked out for a while new reason. "Oh, Discord, nocreature's going to do anything to you! Or force you to do anything." She squeezed his paw, looking towards the Princess to agree and calm him down.

Celestia ignored her look. "What do you mean -- you can't disobey me?"

"If you told me to turn myself back into stone, I would." Discord said in a tone that was probably supposed to be bitter, but seemed unusually meek to Fluttershy. "Well, I'd try to fight the magic long enough to beg you to change your mind, but I'd give it fifteen minutes tops before I lost that fight. Sooner if you said anything along the lines of 'right now' or 'quickly'."

"How do I know that you're telling the truth, and aren't just tricking us?" Celestia asked, her tone that of someone who really wants any other explanation besides the one they've been given.

"Tell me to do something I hate, or ask me a question you know I would never answer truthfully." Discord shrugged dismissively, trying to sound apathetic. But Fluttershy could tell he was still terrified and miserable. "But do you really think I'd seriously bring up the possibility of me begging anycreature for anything, just for a prank?"

"Discord... A few nights ago, all of Luna and my paperwork was swapped. It took us hours to get everything sorted out." Celestia said randomly. "By the time we were done, we discovered that everything in our bedrooms had been swapped as well. Did you do this, and if so, why?"

"Yes, and I was hoping it would cause an argument between you." Discord replied, clenching his teeth.

"And why did you wish to cause strife between my sister and I?" Celestia asked. "A detailed explanation, please."

"I'm the Spirit of Chaos -- I like seeing others argue, and I'm still bitter about the whole thousand years as a garden statue thing, even if I did deserve it." Discord's eyes widened, as if he hadn't meant to say that. His mouth started opening to say more, much to his apparent horror. "And a small part of me was sorta, maybe, definitely hoping you'd find it funny and actually like me for once."

"Well, he's definitely not in control of himself." Spike muttered, sending a worried glance to Fluttershy, who certainly agreed with him. She had suspected Discord wanted Celestia and Luna to like him, but knew he'd never admit it willingly.

And even after she was entirely sure he knew what he had once done was wrong, and that he actually regretted it, he had never once said he deserved being turned to stone. The power was real, and now they all knew it.

"If the Idol was created to control Draconequui, why did it effect the Tree?" Celestia asked. Fluttershy didn't know what they were going to do about the Idol long term, but it was clear that the Princess wasn't about to let a chance to get straight answers out of Discord pass by easily.

"I-I don't know." Discord cringed a little. It occurred to Fluttershy that he might be afraid Celestia would be angered by that answer. Thanks to the Idol's power, Discord was helpless against her, and he had no way of knowing if she'd act on that or not.

"Do you have any theories at all?" Celestia pressed, walking closer to him.

Discord stood up, putting distance between himself and the Princess. "I... It would have to be part Draconequus or something, but that doesn't make sense! My people had nothing to do with its creation."

"Do you have any idea of who would put the Idol near the Tree or why?" Celestia was very close to Discord now, the Idol floating just behind her, as she continued her interrogation.

"I told you, it's been missing for who-knows-how-long!" Discord growled, eyes flicking between Celestia and the Idol as he pressed himself against the wall. He reminded Fluttershy of a cornered animal, scared and ready to lash out but unsure what will happen if he does. "I have no idea of who could have possibly put it there, I thought it was a myth. Or, hoped it was. If the Tree really is affected by the Id- the Idol, then whoever did it was probably targeting it or the Elements."

Celestia opened her mouth to say something, taking another step towards Discord; one step too many. A yellow-pink blur flew between the two ancient beings. Fluttershy rarely used the Stare on Ponies, and never once on a Princess, but it was very effective.

"Back away and drop the Idol." Fluttershy ordered, her eyes taking on a subtle glow. Celestia's ears went back against her head, and she obeyed as if in a daze. The Idol made a crack in the floor when it fell, snapping her out of it, but she made no move to pick it back up.

Fluttershy wasn't Staring anymore, but she was definitely glaring. "That wasn't okay." She said simply, then pushed the Idol into her satchel, touching it as little as possible. At a nod from Fluttershy, Discord snapped his fingers with a look of utter disbelief on his face.

As Pegasus and Draconequus disappeared in a flash of light, everycreature looked on in silence. Twilight turned towards her mentor, not knowing what to think, but didn't ask her anything.

Celestia looked guilty, but not just that. She looked surprised, and... Not everypony could read the Princess's emotions like Twilight could, but even she doubted what she saw.

Princess Celestia looked hopeful.

Epilogue: At The Cottage

"How could she interrogate you like that?" Fluttershy ranted, flying back and forth as her cottage gently spun around her. The moment they'd teleported, she'd insisted on Discord spreading some chaos to center himself. "You told her you didn't know anything, it was obvious you were uncomfortable. At the very least, she could've taken a moment to assure you that she wasn't going to hurt you, instead of terrifying you!"

"I'm pretty sure she was going to hurt me." Discord corrected from his spot on the floating couch, calming petting Angel Bunny with his tail. Neither were in the mood to terrorize the other. "And I suppose I can't really blame her -- I've done a lot of nasty things to her in the past, most of which she never even got a proper revenge for."

"Discord, no one is going to hurt you." Fluttershy swore, metaphorical fire in her teal gaze. "Not while I'm here."

Discord blinked in surprise. Everypony and their dog knew how wildly protective he was of her, but even he didn't realize that the feeling was mutual. He supposed that she'd just never really had the opportunity to protect him before now.

Despite everything, he couldn't help but feel happy knowing that his favorite Pony would do something like use the Stare on Celestia just to protect him. Nocreature had ever defended him like that before.

"You're really not going to use it?" Discord asked, gesturing to the satchel hanging from the end of the couch. "You could ask me anything -- anything at all -- and know for certain I was answering truthfully. Any secret you've ever wanted to know about me, and all you'd have to do is ask. I wouldn't mind, I know you won't hurt me." It was true. He wouldn't particularly like it, but he'd be okay so long as it was her.

"That thing was made to enslave, I'm not using it on anycreature, much less my best friend." Fluttershy shook her head, perching on the back of the couch. "I trust you to be honest with me when it counts, but everycreature is entitled to their secrets. If I want to know something about you, I'll ask, and I'll accept if you don't want to tell me."

Discord wasn't quite sure what to say to that, so he didn't respond. They fell into a thoughtful silence, until he broke it by absent-mindedly saying. "The Pillars."

"What?" Fluttershy asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"The Pillars created the Tree!" He explained, lifting her off the couch and into the air with him, grinning in growing excitement. "If anycreature knows why the Idol can affect young Harmony, it would them."

"Do you think we should talk to them?" Fluttershy asked, leaning into Discord's hold. "Maybe we should just hide the Idol and-"

"If it was found once, it can be found again. Besides," Discord grinned, and suddenly they were in safari gear (even Angel), in the middle of someplace that definitely wasn't Equestria, "we've never gone on an adventure by ourselves before! This is gonna be fun."

Securing her satchel, trying not think about what it held, Fluttershy followed Discord into parts unknown to solve the mystery of the Idol.